Here's how much the average American earns at every age

Male workers between the ages of 25 and 34 see average salaries about $5,000 higher than for female workers.
Joshua Lott / Reuters

The average full-time American worker earns an annual salary of $44,720, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But age and skills set American workers apart — young workers make far less than the national average.

People between the ages of 20 and 24 make $28,000 on average per year — salaries increase roughly 80% during the first two decades in the workforce.

After age 55, the median salary starts to tick down, landing at just over $47,000 for those age 65 and older.

Ever wonder if you make more money than the average American your age?

The average full-time worker's salary was $44,720 for 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But that lumps all American workers together.

Young workers make far less than others — just $28,000 for those between the ages of 20 and 24. But as their skills improve, they can usually count on steep raises, with salaries increasing roughly 80% during their first two decades in the workforce, the BLS data show.

By early middle age — from ages 35 to 44 — the typical American earns just over $50,000. After that, however, the pay hikes start to taper off, with median incomes increasing just 1.3% for those in their late 40s and early 50s.

After age 55, the median salary starts to tick down, landing at just over $47,000 for those age 65 and older.

While women's wages start out similar to men's, that gap widens in the decades that follow: Male workers between the ages of 25 and 34 see average salaries of about $43,000, about $5,000 higher than for female workers.

That wage difference reaches its peak — amounting to roughly $13,000 a year — for workers between the ages of 45 and 54.